The June PNG Attitude newsletter has gone winging your way from Cumbria. Or should that be whingeing. No matter. It's full of the usual provocative commentaries and some good briefing material on PNG. Not to mention the best of the month's feedback. Get your friends and colleagues to sign up for their free monthly infusions here.

Comments

[Denis Samin]

Great reading Keith,

I have a USA friend of mine who among other things, trawls through the international online media.

He came up with this interesting piece on Ilolo Village north of Sogeri , which appeared in the Times Online recently..

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7146669.ece

When I was the Sub-Inspector, OIC at Sogeri in the early 70's, we called it ILOLO and not ALOLO.

On an extended foot patrol through there, I once saw a 50-foot long barbecue rack used for roasting pigs and other
wrapped bundles of foods and garden vegetables.

Old Enfield and Japanese Nambu rifle barrels had been hammered as upright stakes into the hard claypan
surface at the open centre of the village, surrounded by grass huts.

Between the these uprights were again, rifle barrels wired across the uprights with 8-gauge galvanised fencing wire..
The paramount chief said the village had recently celebrated an important wedding.

So, seeing the barrels had been well and truly rusted, toasted and roasted over the years and the bore of every one
of them jammed solid with concrete-hard clay, I suggested to the chief they were doing the only job they were any good for, -cooking.

They're probably still being used for the big events around ILOLO to this day.

Two or three hundred rifle barrels were just too much junk for us to carry on the rest of our patrol.

Besides, we had our hexamine stoves...

But it was sinister reminder of the events that had once enveloped and shattered this pristine part of Papua New Guinea.

Lest We Forget.

Denis Samin
Cairns, North Queensland

[Colin Huggins]

Cumbria / Umbria. Pity about my geographical mistake, when I was thinking, my dear friend KJ, can't spell!

Well, so much for extending my good wishes to Joey Ratzinger at the Vatican. Maybe your next visit, Keith, or just call in on the way back to Australia.

As you are now so close to Scotland, have you given any thought to buying yourself a kilt

[Jaymz]

If that is the Frank Sibl of Department of Public Works memory [1960s and 70s], please email through Keith's kind offices. Good to see Murray and Gordon still interested in our 'other home' too.
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Frank and Jaymz are now in touch - KJ

[Newman Ewada]

Thank you for the June edition of PNG Attitude. It was great.

[Frank Sibl]

The free email subscription to PNG Attitude would be much appreciated, thank you. I have seen but one issue which had excellent material selection. Congratulations.

[Gordon Shirley]

John Folke is spot on with his comments.

As someone who worked on a project in 2004/2005 in Goroka and several other Provinces I saw what I saw and know what I know.

[Les Pearson]

With reference to the proposed PNG Service Medal. Thanks Ron for your effort on behalf of all who served in TPNG.

It was surprising to read of some of the reactions to Ron's efforts. Working in the area of Education, there was always something more to be done or another idea to be explored. It was never boring!

(The abilities developed were put to further use in Australia working with children in need of care as well as in education both in Australia and Chile.)

Yes, it wasn't World War II or Vietnam, and generally didn't involve personal risk such as patrol officers faced, but the isolation did have an effect on many: marriages were destroyed, and people often sought refuge in alcohol. Some comitted suicide.

I enjoyed the opportunities that presented themselves in PNG and like to think that my educational contribution was productive.

I have returned to visit PNG a couple of times in the past 10 years and know of the problems that are evident.

This does not diminish the contribution made prior to independence.

[Sion Kanau]

Thanks for circulating the material. It certanly is informative and keeps me in the loop as to concerns raised and news affecting PNG.

I hope many PNGians living in Australia harbour the same passion as you.

It is good to generate discussion and get as many people as possible concerned about what is happening at home and propose ideas to address them.

Having a forum and and intiative as you've started is the way to go. Congratulations.

[Colin Huggins]

Keith - You never fail to amaze me, then at times you do send me into a mini-orbit. Sending this report from the Italian Province of Umbria shows your dedication before
enjoyment. I think I would be more inclined to be enjoying the sights and delights of the Umbrian countryside - nope, on second thoughts it would be for me, enjoyment first and I'd consider sending the June report when I returned to a far colder Australia than when you left!

I should imagine after the triump of Francesca Schiavone in the French Singles Final, that the mad keen soccer players/readers were knocked off their perches with sporting accolades all pertaining to Francesca?

Please convey my best wishes to Benedict XVI, or as I affectionately call him, Joey Ratzinger, when you call in at Rome.
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Hmm. That was Cumbria (homicidal taxi drivers) not Umbria, Colin - KJ